Rotary valve



Dec. 18, 1928. l1,695,348

H. scHEr-:L

ROTARY VALVE Filed oct. 21. 1920 2 sheets-sheer. 1

Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,348

H. scHr-:EL

ROTARY VALVE Filed Oct. 21, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HEFT: d: EGP-1551.

d d' 5,1 M94 @Hmumfv Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED 'STATES PA'llizfNTl OFFICE;

HERBERT SCHERL, or MARLRWOOD, MISSOURI, AssIGNOR, RY MESNR ASSIGNMENTS,

lTO SCHREL MOTORS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 'OF DELAWARE.

` 4ROTARY VALVE,

Application lfiled October21, 1920. Serial No. 418,564.

This invention relates to internal combustion. engines, and the primary object of the and thereby eliminate the complicated oper- K ating and timing mechanism thereof.

A further object of the invention is the ,provision of a rotary valve designed from apractical and technical standpoint to overcome the impractical features heretobeforel involved 1n the construction of a rotary valve.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rotary valve adjustably located with respect to a seat in the cylinder l head of an internal combustion engine, and

one which is constructed of permanently eX- panded metal, andone which can consequentlv be iioated in a. thin fihn of oil, and spaced from its seat in t-he cylinder head; K

A further Object of the invention is the provision of a permanently expanded tapered valve which is adjustably disposed in its seat in the Cylinder head by anti-friction thrust bea ings.l i

A further Object of the invention is to provide an improved rotary valve arranged in a removable cylinder hhead and which .is adapted to be associated with motors now on the market,`thereby rendering the invention` applicable. to existing motors as well as motors in the course of manufacture.

' A further- Object ofthe invention is the provision `of a rotary valve for internal combustion engines, which is gradually tapered toward O ne'end thereof so as to permit the correct seating thereof in its valveseat, the tapered valve being so associated with the Cylinder head that the confronting conicall portion thereof is at substantially right anl,

gles to the axes of the bores ofthe cylinders.

Other objects and advantages of the in-` vention will be apparent inthe following detailed description, takenvin connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. in which drawings:

Figure 1 is -a fragmentary longitudinal section through the internal-combustion engine showing the improved rotary valve associated therewith.l

Figure 2 is a lateral'vcross section taken through the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, and showing the rotary valve in relation to the intake and exhaust ports therein.

Figurel 3 is a fragmentary cross'sectional view showing the means of supporting the rotary valve in the cylinder head.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view onj the line 4,-4 of Figure 3.

Figure' is an end elevation of the adjusttaken 'ing nut for adjusting the position of the rotary valve with respect to its seat in the cylinder head.

Inthe drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the letter A designates the motor or internal combustionengine of any approved type having` a. rotary valve B disposed within the cylinder headthereof, and adjustably `maintained therein by the anti-friction or roller bearing construction C. i l i The motor A as herein illustrated. comprises a cylinder casing 10 having four cyl-l inders therein east en bloc. The crank case 11 comprises the .ordinary `internal combustion engine construction having the crank shaft 12 bearin therein, and the connecting rods 13 mounte thereon having the pistons 14 inder casing 10. f a l f The C linder head D is of special construction an I is mounted upon the cylinder casing 10 by bolts 15 orthe like having a gasket 16 disposed therebetween to render the Connection leak proof. It is'preferred that the motor be ofthe water cooled type having the passageways 17 therein for complete water circulation about the cylinders and through the cylinder head D. The cylinder head D has a circular conical seat 18 extending longitudinally therethrough which is provided for the purpose of-receiving the rotary valve B. An intake manifold19 and an exhaust manifold 20 are provided, havingjpassageways 21 therein leading or Connecting with passageways 22 in the cylinder head D.; and which connect or feed into the longitudinally extending rotary valve seat 18. Passagewavs 23 are provided in the cylinder head D which establish communicationbetween the longitudinal seat 18 and the cylinders of the internal combustion engine. The rotary valve B preferably comprises a solid shaft 24 of .heatA Atreated cast iron and permanently exelsy 'lol

pivotally'mounted upon the' ends thereof and disposed within the cylinders of the cyl` ldirectly upon its seat 18'in the cylinder head D butrather has a clearance of .001 of an inch therebetween for a thin'film et oil. valves heretofore constructed have borne directly upon their seats iny the ycylinder head y resu ting in a comparatively snug lit and thus creating considerable friction-'which in time wears upon the rest side, and produces an oval bearing surface upon the lower side of the'cylinder head, which results in the loss of compression. A practically uniform clearance between the rotary valve and its seat is l ate each of the ports 25 thereon.

maintained by means of 'riotionless bearings, which may be either ball or roller bearings In order to maintain the clearance between the valve seat and the valve it is necessary toy provide some means of preventing expansion of the valve itself, and to accomplish this result, the rotary valve isgeared'in a ratio of.

4:1 with the crankshaft, and alsoA the valve ports inthe saidvvalve are disposed diametrically opposite each other and are caused' to rotate in such a manner that immediately after the surface ofthe valve port is exposed to the heating inuence of the exhaust gases, the identical same surface is immediately sub- Iiected to the cooling influence of the incoming mixture of air and fuel. Again. the valve is substantially solid lthereby supplying large conductive cross-sectional area.

The periphery ofthe valve is in close juxtaposition with a circum'ambient water-jacketed housing Between said housing andthe valve, a ilm of oil is maintained. hence the heat transmitted to the valve by the exhaust gases is lirst subject to the cooling etl'ect of the incoming charge and then further conducted through the oil nlm to the waterjacketed housing. l

By this means the valve is maintained at practically a uniform, low temperature during all conditions of service, and experiments have proven this t'o be true.

The rotary valve has depressions or ports 25 therein and which are oi" such formation as to establish communication between the eX- haust or intake manifolds, and the cylinders through passageways 22 and 23. The rotary valve B is preferably provided with the reduced ends 26 and 27 having the screw threads 28 thereon and the longitudinal slots 29 therein and which ,are provided for the purpose of receiving the roller bearing construction C to adjustably support the rotary valve B ,in its seat 18 in the cvlinderhea'd D. Oil

grooves 30 are disposed upon the ends ot the rotary valve body portion 24 and oil grooves 31 ofsimilar formation are circmn'lerentially disposed about the rotary valve B, intermedi- Spiral oil grooves 32 are provided longitudinally upon.

Rotary the rotary valve' and establish communication between the various grooves 30. and 31. The oil passageways are very shallow 1n depth and insure a complete film of oil eir-I cumferentially around the rotary valve and intermediate the same and its seat 18. Y

The roller bearing construction' C is provided to adjustably support the rotary valve of the roller bearing support 38 and which is internally screw threaded for engagement with the threads 28 of the stem 26. lt is thus evident that as the adjusting nut 4l is rotated upon the stem 26, it will bind against the face of the roller bearing support 38 and either advance or retract the rotary valve B within its seat 18. Since'such a tine adjustment as .O01 ot an inch is required between the rotary valve and its seat, it is necessary that a lock washer 42be provided to maintain the adjusting nut 41 in a determined position. For this purpose a projection 43 is formed upon the lock washer 42 and adapted for longitudinal sliding engagement within the slot f 29 of the stem 26: and a plurality of apertures 44 are cireumferentially stamped therein to receive the projection 45 upon the adjusting nut 4l. A number of apertures 46 are provided upon the adjusting nut 41, and

diametrically opposed for the reception of a Spanner wrench or the like to more easily rotate the same upon the stem 46. lin order to provide a permanent adjustment an auxiliary lock nut 47 is provided for binding against the lock washer 42, and which has a cotter'pin 48 therein for locking the same to the shaft 26. Une of the bearing structures are placed upon each end of the rotary valve v B and it is thus obvious that a tine adg'ustment can be maintained between the rotary valve and its seat especially in view ot the non-expansible construction of the rotary valve.

An operative connection is established-be In the type of internal combustion enginel lhere shown it 1s preferred that oil cups 55 crank case ofthe internal combustion engine.

' to be taken as a It is preferred that the lower edge V0f the tapered valve B be disposed at substantially right angles to the axes ofthe various cylinders.Y f

A passageway 57 establishes an outlet for the circulating -Water intothe radiator 58, while the pipe59is provided to convey the cooled Water into the jacket 17. A head 60 is bolted or otherwise connected ,upon an end of the cylinder head D and upon that end whichV encases the smaller end of the ro-A tary' valve B, said casing having passageways 61 for the free circulation ofthewater Withinthe Water jacket of the motor. y

A rotary valve as herein described will be maintained at a practically uniformdiamcter at all times and thus an even clearance between the same and its seat can bemaintained at all times, thusdoing away to a maximum extent with friction which isthe commoncause of failures of all rotary valves. No packing rings are required since the thin yfilm of oil disposed about they rotary valve will insure against escape of compression and explosion of the combustible vapors. `Due to the finely adjusted roller bearings, a permanent adjustment f of the very small clearance can be maintained especially in view of the non-cxpansible construction of the rotary valve B. The stems 26 upon the conical valve 25 however, can be tapered or otherwise constructed of a highgrade steel -in order to make the same suitable for the screw threads and thereto.

. Very small chance of carbon accumulations upon the rotary valve will be afforded in view of the fact that the same port is usedt for the intake and exhaust gases, for it is readily `seen that Whatever carbon deposits are formed upony the port Q5 will be broken up by the oxygen contained in the inrushing combustible vapors. Thus it will be seldom necessary to clean the valves in contra-distinctionto the ordinary poppet valves now other strains incident v1I) lise.

It is to be understood that the'form of my invention herewith shown and described is preferred example of the same and that varlous changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made wit-hout dcparting'from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine the combination of a pluralityof cylinders and a cylinder head, having a'longitudinal seat therein, of 'a rotary valve disposed in said seat, anti-friction means for adjusting said valve to proviclefand maintain a practically uniform predetermined clearance between said valve and said seat, and means for maintaining said valve at a practically uniform temperature whether said engine is running lfree or running under varying loads.

f2. In an internal combustion engine the combination of a' plurality of cylinders, a cylinder head havingV a' longitudinally eX- tending conical seat therein communicating u'ilh said cylinders, a conicalrotary valve disposed ivithin said seat and lmaintained at a practically uniform clearance therefrom, raid valve having ports diametrically oppositeeach other adapted to communicate With exhaust and intake ports leading from and into said cylinders, said exhaust and intake cylinder ports being opposite each other so that the exhaust gases emitted from said exhaustport-s contact with the surface of the port- 1ny said valve and immediately. thereafter the same surfaceof said valve port will be swept and cooled by the incoming charge yentermg said cylinder through sald intake valve ports, thereby tending to main-l tain said rotary valve at a relatively uniform temperature, means forgrotating said conical valve at such. a speed, relative to the rotation ofjthe crankshaft of said engine, that diametrically opposite surfaces of said rotary valve will be caused to alternatelyand immediatelyl contact first With the exhaust gases emitted from said cylinders and then With the coolingyvapor of the incoming charge, thereby maintaining the saidrotary valve at` a practically uniform temperature under c I all working conditions. a

l3. In an internal combustion engine the combination of a plurality of cylinders, a cylinder head having a longitudinally eXtending conical seat therein, communicating with said cylinders, a conical rotary valve disposed within said seat, means for maintaining said valve at a practically uniform distance from said seat, said valve having ports diametrically opposite each other adapted to communicate With exhaust and intake ports leading from and into said cylinders and positioned opposite each other, so that the exhaust gases emitted from said cylinders will first contact with the surface of the port in said valve and immediately thereafter the same surface of the said valve port will be swept and cooled by the incoming charge entering said cylinders through their said intake ports, thereby tending to maintain said rotary valve at a relatively uniform temperature, means for rotating said conical valve at such a speed, relative to the rotation of the crankshaft of said engine,

exhaust ports oi said cylinders, which said same surfaces will immediately be exposed to Contact with, the cooling 'vapor of the incoming charge, thereby tending to neutralize and absorb the heat 'romsaid exhaust heated surfaces in a manner 'to maintain the said rotary valve at a practically uniform temperature un der all Working'conditions, said rotary valve being disposed Within a water-jacketed housing. means for interposing and maintaining a tilm ot, oil between the external periphery of said valve and the internal periphery of said ivater-jaclreted housing, thereby to assist in maintaining said rotary valve atv a practically uniform temperature under varying conditions.

4. A combustion engine of the class described, comprising a. plurality of cylinders, pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a cylinder head common to` all of said cylinders, having a longitudinal bore therethrough, openy ports leading 'from said bore into said cylinders, a round' rotatable valve disposed within said bore; adapted when rotated, to al-v ternately open and close said ports, anti-friction means it'or rotatably mounting said valve Within said borein non-physical contact with the Wall oit said bore, means for maintaining a lilm ot oil between the periphery of said valveand the vvall of said bore, means for maintaining the temperature of said valve substantially const-aint under various loads and at various speeds.

5. A combustion engine ot the class described, comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, a cylinder head, having a mangue longitudinal bore therethrough, a. port connecting said bore With the interior of said cylinder, a rotatable valve disposed Withinsaid bore, anti-friction means for maintaining said valve in said bore in non-contact with the periphery of said bore. A

6. A combustion engine of the class described, comprising .a plurality 'of cylinders having pistons reciprocable therein, a cylinder head having a longitudinal bore there* through, a rotatable valve disposed Within said base in non-physical contact therewith, exhaust and intake ports in said cylinder head adapted to be alternately and intermittently in open and closed communication With the interior I,of said cylinders, means for putting said ports into alternating open and closed communication with ythe interior of said cylinders in timed relation `with the movement ot said pistons.

7. An internal combustion lengine of the class described, comprising a plurality of cylinders having a common cylinder head, a bore longitudinally disposed throughout said head, a rotatable valve disposed Within said bore in non-physical Contact with the walls of said bore, the diameter of said bore at all points along its major axis being larger by asmall fraction of an inch than the diameter ot' the said rotary valve at like points along its major axis when operatively disposed within said bore, means Jfor maintaining a film of oil in the space between the Walls of said bore and the periphery of said valve. HERBERT SCHEEL. 

